Information-processing apparatus and programs used in information-processing apparatus

ABSTRACT

An information-processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention allows the user to select one of a plurality of input operation modes of the absolute coordinate input unit. One of the input operation modes is a specific mode allowing a display range to be moved to a desired position in a state where the highest resolution of a display unit integrated with the absolute coordinate input unit is lower than the resolution of an entire screen. The information-processing apparatus has a configuration in which, when an operation face of the absolute coordinate input unit is touched to carry out a drag operation in this specific mode, the distance of a movement made in the drag operation is detected, and the position of the display range is then changed by moving the display range by the detected distance.

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.11/224,970, filed Sep. 14, 2005, and is based upon and claims thebenefit of priority from prior Japanese Patent Application No.2004-292409, filed Oct. 5, 2004, the entire contents of each of whichare incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a technology used for improvingoperatability to specify a display range in an information-processingapparatus having a configuration allowing the user to enter operationinputs while viewing a screen display by using a coordinate input unit(or a coordinate read unit) such as a touch panel.

As an operation input configuration of an information-processingapparatus such as a portable computer, there is known a configurationusing an input unit (or a read unit) of an absolute coordinate type.Examples of the input unit (or the read unit) of the absolute coordinatetype are a touch panel and a tablet. With the input unit (or the readunit) of the absolute coordinate type, an operation input can be enteredto the information-processing apparatus by using a stylus or a finger.With an application program activated to run under an operating system(hereinafter referred to as OS) executed in the information-processingapparatus, for example, the user is capable of carrying out an operationby using a GUI (Graphical User Interface) while viewing informationappearing on the display screen of the apparatus.

There has been known an input pen system having a switching functionallowing the user familiar with operations carried out in a GUIenvironment using a pointing device such as the mouse to enter anoperation input in the same operating sense as an apparatus providedwith a touch panel as disclosed in some documents. An example of theswitching function is a function to switch from a right-click facilityof the mouse to left-click facility thereof and vice versa.

One of such techniques is disclosed, for example, in Japanese PatentLaid-open No. 2000-81951.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

With the conventional information-processing apparatus, however, theoperatability of specifying a display range raises a problem caused bythe fact that a touch panel is employed as a pointing device of theabsolute coordinate type.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the highestresolution of an absolute coordinate input unit is lower than theresolution of a display screen to be displayed.

A rectangular frame W in the figure is the display screen whereas arectangular frame ω having a small area in the display screen W is adisplay range (or a display area) of the display unit such as a tabletintegrated display unit.

If the resolution of the display screen exceeds an assumed resolution ofthe display of a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) display unit or an LCD(liquid-crystal display unit, a panning state will be resulted in. Apanning state is a display state in which only a range corresponding tothe display area ω is partially displayed on the display screen W. Thatis to say, a panning state is a display state caused by the fact thatthe highest resolution of the display unit is lower than the resolutionof a display screen. However, deletion of picture data or the like isnot taken into consideration. By the way, the assumed resolution citedabove is also referred to as a displayable highest resolution.

In such a panning state, the user is not capable of specifying aposition outside the display range ω by operating the touch panel. Thatis to say, the use of another relative coordinate device for moving apointer from the display range to another display range in the displayscreen is indispensable since the function of such a relative coordinatedevice cannot be implemented by merely operating the touch panel. Forexample, it is necessary to use a device such as a track point, anoperation stick or a mouse to move the pointer to an outside positionbeyond the boundary of the display range in a desired direction, thatis, to move the pointer to an intended display range.

An input operation mode in the panning state is referred to hereafter asa panning mode. In the panning mode, by operating only the absolutecoordinate input unit, a desired display range cannot probably bespecified, or another device is required, affecting the operatabilityseen from the user point of view. As an alternative, there may be raiseda problem bringing about an increase in component count and/or anincrease in cost, which are mainly caused by complexity of a circuitconfiguration and/or control.

It is desirable to provide devices for improving user operatability forspecifying a display range in an information-processing apparatusemploying an absolute coordinate input unit such as a touch panel.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is providedan information-processing apparatus having a configuration in which,when an operation face of an absolute coordinate input unit employed inthe information-processing apparatus is touched in a touch operationcarried out in a panning mode to move a display operator over a displayscreen appearing on a display unit employed in theinformation-processing apparatus, the distance of a movement of thedisplay operator is detected, and the position of a display range on thedisplay screen is then changed by moving the display range by thedetected distance where the panning mode is a display-range operationmode allowing the position of a display range to be changed by movingthe display range in a state of displaying only a portion of the entiredisplay screen on the display unit.

In addition, a program executed by the information-processing apparatusaccording to an embodiment of the present invention includes the stepsof: determining that an input operation mode has been changed to adisplay-range operation mode; and changing a display range by moving thedisplay range on a display screen appearing on a display unit employedin the information-processing apparatus by a distance detected as thedistance of a movement of a display operator, which is moved over thedisplay screen when an operation face of an absolute coordinate inputunit employed in the information-processing apparatus is touched in atouch operation after the input operation mode has been changed to thedisplay-range operation mode.

Thus, according to an embodiment of the present invention, in thepanning mode where only a portion of the screen appears on the displayunit, a display range can be moved to a desired location by merelyoperating the absolute coordinate input unit.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, another relativecoordinate input device is not required in a panning state. Thus, thepresent invention effectively allows the configuration of theinformation-processing apparatus to be simplified and the manufacturingcost thereof to be reduced. In addition, the present invention is alsoeffective for improving operatability and convenience, which areprovided for the user.

In addition, in the configuration allowing the input operation mode tobe changed by carrying out a touch operation on a specific operationarea provided on the absolute coordinate input unit, hardware operationkeys are not needed. Thus, the present invention is suitable forincreasing the size of a display unit. Moreover, by further designingthe configuration so as to allow the input operation mode to be changedin a cyclic manner by carrying out a touch operation on the specificoperation area, the size of the operation area can be reduced to arequired minimum.

The capability of changing and/or switching to a hover mode canimplemented with ease is effective for improvement of operatability. Thehover mode is a mode corresponding to an operation to move a mousepointer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other objects of the invention will be seen with reference tothe description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a typical basic configuration of anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an information-processing apparatus in asimple manner;

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing typical state transitionsbetween input operation modes;

FIGS. 4A to 4D are explanatory diagrams showing operation states in apanning mode;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a perspective view of an external typicalconfiguration of the information-processing apparatus as a view to beused in explanation of an embodiment of the present invention inconjunction with FIGS. 6 and 7;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a typical hardware configuration ofthe information-processing apparatus;

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing elements of a software configuration; and

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a panning state.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention provides an information-processing apparatushaving an absolute coordinate input unit and a display unit, with whichthe absolute coordinate input unit is integrated. Theinformation-processing apparatus has a configuration allowing a displayrange to be modified in a panning state by operating only the absolutecoordinate input unit. It is to be noted that the information-processingapparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention can alsobe applied to equipment such as a computer, a PDA (Personal DigitalAssistant), a variety of video apparatus and an acoustic apparatus.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a typical basic configuration of aninformation-processing apparatus 1 according to the embodiment of thepresent invention.

As an absolute coordinate input unit 2, the information-processingapparatus 1 employs a touch panel integrated with a display unit 4 to bedescribed later, and a pen input device or a digitizer or the like. Whenthe user specifies a position on an operation face by using a finger, apen or a stylus, for example, absolute coordinates of the specifiedposition are detected. It is to be noted that the present invention canbe applied to the information-processing apparatus 1 without regard towhether the connection between the pointing device such as an input penand a main body 5 of the information-processing apparatus 1 is a wireconnection or a wireless (or radio) connection.

A processing unit 3, which is typically a CPU (Central Processing Unit)or a system controller processes information on a position or anoperation specified in an operation carried out by the user by using theabsolute coordinate input unit 2.

As described above, the display unit 4 is integrated with the absolutecoordinate input unit 2. As the display unit 4, a device such as aliquid-crystal display panel is employed. The user is capable ofcarrying out an input operation or a select operation on the absolutecoordinate input unit 2 while viewing a display on the screen of thedisplay unit 4.

It is to be noted that the present invention can be applied to aconfiguration having an operation section including hardware keys suchas operation buttons and switches on the main body of theinformation-processing apparatus 1 or a configuration allowing an inputto be entered or a selection to be specified completely by carrying outan operation on the absolute coordinate input unit 2 without providingsuch an operation section.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the information-processing apparatus 1 in asimple manner. The front face of the main body 5 is provided with anoperation display section 6 integrated with a touch panel and a displaydevice.

When an operation is carried out on the touch panel by using a devicesuch as a finger or a stylus, an input operation mode can be changed bya specific operation key 7 provided on the main body 5 or a specificoperation area 8 provided on the touch panel.

Operations carried out by the user on the touch panel include thefollowing operations.

-   Touch is an operation to touch the touch panel by using a pointing    device such as a finger or a stylus and keep the pointing device on    the touch panel as it is.-   Release is an operation to release the pointing device such as a    finger or a stylus from the touch panel from a state in which the    pointing device is in contact with the touch panel.-   Single tap (or the so-called tap) is an operation to touch the touch    panel by using the pointing device such as a finger or a stylus and    then release the pointing device from the touch panel right away.-   Double tap is an operation to carry out a single tap twice    consecutively in a row.-   Drag is an operation to move the pointing device such as a finger or    a stylus over the touch panel by keeping the pointing device in a    state of touching the touch panel or a state in which the pointing    device is being kept in contact with the touch panel.

In a normal input operation mode, a release operation to release thepointing device from the touch panel after the pointing device isbrought into contact with the touch panel corresponds to a click carriedout on a main button in a mouse operation. The main button is theordinary left button and the click carried out on ordinary left buttonin a mouse operation is referred to as the so-called left click.

In a mouse operation, besides a click on the main button, there are theso-called right click and a hover operation. The right click is a clickon an auxiliary button, which is the ordinary right button. The hoveroperation is a move operation to move only the mouse pointer. The userneeds to properly select one of the operations described above inaccordance with a condition faced by the user.

A method for selecting one of input operation modes assumed below isexplained as follows.

Left-Click Mode (Main-Button Click Mode)

The left-click mode is a mode set in an initial state. When the usercarries out a tap operation on the touch panel in the left-click mode,the tap operation is recognized as a mouse event of the left click andreported to the OS.

Right-Click Mode (Auxiliary-Button Click Mode)

When the user carries out a tap operation on the touch panel in theright-click mode, the tap operation is recognized as a mouse event ofthe right click and reported to the OS.

Hover Mode (Pointer-Only Movement Mode)

When the user carries out a tap operation on the touch panel in thehover mode, the tap operation is recognized as a mouse event of theright click and reported to the OS.

Panning Mode

The panning mode is a mode that can be set only in a panning state. Thatis to say, the panning mode is a display-range operation mode for astate in which the highest resolution of the display unit 4 is lowerthan the resolution of a screen to be displayed. Concrete operationsexecutable in the panning mode will be described later.

If the present mode is the left-click mode, the present mode can bechanged to the right-click mode or the hover mode. As a method to changethe present mode to the right-click mode or the hover mode, a dedicatedapplication program is activated and then the present mode is changed toanother mode. As an alternative, a plurality of operations needs to becarried out in order to change a mode to another. In this case, however,long time and much labor are required. In addition, the user needs tomaster a procedure for carrying out the operations.

In order to solve the problems described above, it is desirable toprovide a configuration allowing the user to operate the operation key 7on the main body 5 or touch the specific operation area 8 provided onthe absolute coordinate input unit 2 in order to change a mode toanother.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing typical state transitionsinitiated by operating a specific operation button as transitionsbetween the input operation modes described above. The specificoperation button used for initiating the mode transitions is referred tohereafter as a mode-switching button.

First of all, in the initial state, the left-click mode is selected.Then, the left-click mode is changed to the right-click mode byoperating the mode-switching button. To put it concretely, themode-switching button can be operated by pressing the button or bytapping an operation area. When the switching-button is further carriedout, the right-click mode is changed to the hover mode. When theswitching-button is further carried out, the hover mode is changed backto the left-click mode if the information-processing apparatus 1 is notin the panning state or the hover mode is changed to the panning mode ifthe information-processing apparatus 1 is in the panning state.

The panning mode is changed to the left-click mode if the mode-switchingbutton is operated or if the information-processing apparatus 1 exitsfrom the panning state.

In a configuration, where the input operation mode can be changed in acyclic manner by operating the mode-switching button as described above,only a single operation button or a single operation area is needed.Thus, the occupied area can be suppressed to a minimum. That is to say,it is not necessary to provide an operation key 7 on the main body 5 foreach mode transition or provide an operation touch section in theoperation area 8 for each input operation mode. In the example describedabove, for example, four input operation modes are provided and thenumber of input operation modes may actually be even larger. If it isnecessary to provide an operation key 7 on the main body 5 for each modetransition or provide an operation touch section in the operation area 8for each input operation mode, the number of operation keys 7 and/or thenumber of occupied areas on the information-processing apparatus willalso increase as well. Thus, the display area will be affected.

It is to be noted that, in a configuration where the input operationmode can be changed by carrying a touch operation on a specificoperation area provided on the touch panel, no dedicated hardware keysare needed. Thus, the display area of the display unit can be increasedby an amount corresponding to the elimination of the dedicated hardwarekeys.

Now, the panning mode is explained below.

If a CRT or a liquid-crystal display device is used as the display unit4, an image can be displayed at one of a plurality of differentresolutions. If the screen resolution is lower than the highestresolution displayable by the display unit 4, the whole screen cantypically be displayed on the display unit 4.

If the screen resolution is higher than the highest resolutiondisplayable by the display unit 4, however, only a portion of the screencan be displayed by using an image-processing function of a graphic LSIor the like in the so-called panning state as explained above withreference to FIG. 8.

In the panning state, the input operation mode can be changed to thepanning mode by operating the mode-switching button. Then, an operationcarried out by the user on the touch panel is recognized, for example,as a command to move a display range.

FIGS. 4A to 4D are explanatory diagrams showing operation states in thepanning mode. Notations W and ω denote the same things as thoseexplained above with reference to FIG. 8. In this example, the displayframes each have a rectangular shape. It is to be noted that the presentinvention is not to be limited to the rectangular shape. That is to say,any frame shapes may be used.

In the first place, FIG. 4A is a diagram showing a screen frame Wdisplayed on the display unit 4 with a frame ω appearing on a portioninside the screen frame W and a pointer (or a cursor) displayed on theframe ω as a display operator 9 having an arrow-like shape.

In this state, when the input operation mode is changed to the panningmode, the shape of the display operator 9 is changed to a shape providedfor the panning mode as shown in FIG. 4B. In this example, the shapeprovided for the panning mode is the shape of the palm of a left hand.

Then, as shown in FIG. 4C, the user carries out an operation to slide apointing device such as a stylus or a finger over the touch panel withthe pointing device kept in a state of being brought into contact withthe touch panel, that is, with the pointing device kept in a state oftouching the touch panel, as it is. The operation to slide a pointingdevice such as a stylus or a finger over the touch panel with thepointing device kept in a state of being brought into contact with thetouch panel is referred to as a drag operation. As a result, the displayrange shown so far as a dashed-line frame is moved to the location ofanother display range shown as a solid-line frame as shown in FIG. 4D.For example, when a drag operation is carried out to move the displayoperator 9 in a slanting left-upward direction indicated by an arrow Mshown in FIG. 4C, the movement distance of the operation is detected.Then, the display range shown as the frame ω is moved in a slantingright-downward direction indicated by an arrow m shown in FIG. 4D by thedetected movement distance. In this case, the display range is shiftedwith the size of the frame ω remaining the same. As a result, the imageof a display range different from the display range displayed so farappears on the display unit 4.

As described above, if an operation of touching the operation face ofthe absolute coordinate input unit 2 by using a pointing device iscarried out to move the display operator 9 over the display screen afterthe input operation mode has been changed to the panning mode, themovement quantity of the operation is detected and processing isperformed to move or change the display range in accordance with thedetected movement quantity.

A program including a step of implementing this processing is read outfrom a storage section 10 employed in the information-processingapparatus 1 as shown in FIG. 1 and interpreted by the CPU for execution.That is to say, the core of the processing carried out by theinformation-processing apparatus 1 is implemented by hardware includingthe processing unit 3 such as the CPU and a collection of variousprograms executed by the processing unit 3. By execution of the programsaccording to information on operations, the following processing stepsare carried out.

-   (1) A processing step of confirming that the input operation mode    has been changed to the panning mode.-   (2) A processing step of detecting the movement distance of a    specific operation and performing processing to change the display    range on the display screen of the display unit 4 by moving the    display range by the detected movement distance when the specific    operation is carried out to move the display operator 9 over the    display screen by execution of an operation of touching the    operation face of the absolute coordinate input unit 2 after the    input operation mode has been changed to the panning mode.

By applying the information-processing apparatus 1 explained above andthe programs described above or a storage medium used for storing theprograms, the position of a display range in the panning state can bechanged by using only the touch panel. In addition, by providing memberssuch as an operation button to change the input operation mode of thetouch panel, the mode can be changed from one to another with ease. Itis also desirable to assign the function to change the input operationmode to a single operation section so as to achieve simplification ofthe operation system.

Embodiment

An embodiment applying the present invention to a portable computer isexplained as follows.

As shown in FIG. 5, a case 12 of an information-processing apparatus 11has a transversally long flat rectangular shape. On a front face 13 ofthe case 12, a display device 14 such as a liquid-crystal display deviceis provided.

A touch panel is provided on the surface 15 of the display device 14.The user is capable of carrying out a select operation and an inputoperation by specifying a desired position on an operation face throughuse of a pointing device 16 such as a finger, a dedicated pen or astylus while viewing the display screen. It is to be noted that, atpredetermined locations on the case 12, a variety of operations elements17, 17 and so on is provided. Examples of the operation elements 17, 17and so on are buttons and switches. One of the operation elements 17, 17and so on is a mode-switching button. A typical configuration of theoperation elements 17, 17 and so on is explained as follows.

-   Assignment of key functions to the operation elements 17, 17 and so    on is fixed.-   Assignment of key functions to the operation elements 17, 17 and so    on can be changed for the sake of handedness and/or convenience for    the user.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a typical hardware configuration ofthe information-processing apparatus 11.

As shown in the figure, a CPU 101 serving as a control nucleus isconnected to a control unit 102 through an FSB (Front Side Bus). Thecontrol unit 102, other control units and other devices form theprocessing unit 3 described above. The other control units and otherdevices will be described later. The control unit 102 is a component forexecuting control of a main memory 103 and a graphic function. Thecontrol unit 102 mainly plays a role for processing data having a largeamount at a high speed. In AT compatibility, the control unit 102 isreferred to as a north bridge. In this embodiment, the control unit 102is connected to the CPU 101, the main memory 103, a control unit 104 anda graphic display unit 105 such as a liquid-crystal display device.

The control unit 104 is a component mainly for controlling elements suchas control devices provided for a user interface and for controlling buslinks of devices. In the AT compatibility, the control unit 104 isreferred to as a south bridge. In an ISA bridge to the PCI, the controlunit 104 plays a role of a bridge between a PCI (Peripheral ComponentInterconnect) bus and a low-speed bus such as an ISA (Industry StandardArchitecture) bus. The control unit 104 has the functions of controllerssuch as an ISA controller and an IDE (Integrated Drive Electronics)controller.

The PCI bus is connected to a radio LAN (or a W-LAN) serving as a radiocommunication device 106 and a device 107 for connection with andcontrolling an external memory and an external apparatus. As theexternal memory, a semiconductor memory device can be employed. Thedevice 107 is provided with a control device 108 for reading out andwriting data from and into a stick-shaped storage medium and a controldevice 109 for reading out and writing data from and into a card-shapedstorage medium. In addition, the device 107 has the function of aconnection interface with an external apparatus. An example of theconnection interface is an interface conforming to IEEE 1394 definingspecifications of hardware for adding a serial device to a computer.

The control unit 104 is connected a LAN (Local Area Network) connectiondevice 110 and a USB (Universal Serial Bus) port connected to the touchpanel 111.

An auxiliary storage unit 112 is a drive for driving a disk such as amagnetic or optical disk. In this embodiment, the auxiliary storage unit112 is a drive for driving a large-capacity storage medium such as ahard disk. The auxiliary storage unit 112 is connected to the controlunit 104, which serves as an internal IDE controller.

An audio codec 113 connected to the control unit 104 is a component foroutputting an audio signal obtained as a result of a digital-analogconversion process to a component such as a speaker 114 or head phones115. The audio signal represents a voice or a sound. In an apparatusconfiguration including a microphone, the audio codec 113 carries out aprocess to convert audio input data into a digital one.

A storage unit 116 is a memory for storing a control program for drivinga computer. The storage unit 116 is connected to the control unit 104and a control unit 117 by using an LPC (Low Pin Count) bus or the like.

The control unit 117 is a general-purpose unit for controlling a varietyof signals. As the control unit 117, for example, an EC (EmbeddedController) is employed. The control unit 117 also controls the powersupply of the information-processing apparatus 11 and additionalfunctions of the information-processing apparatus 11. In the case of aportable information-processing apparatus, the control unit 117 is amicrocomputer. It is to be noted that, by modifying a control programstored in the storage unit 116, the method for controlling the computercan be changed.

An operation section 118 including the operation element 17 provided onthe main body of the information-processing apparatus 11 outputs asignal to the control unit 117. As a connection section 119 forconnecting an external apparatus to the information-processing apparatus11, a USB connector is provided on the main body of theinformation-processing apparatus 11. The USB connector 119 is alsoconnected to the control unit 104.

It is to be noted that a power-supply section not shown in the figurereceives a commercial power-supply voltage from an AC adaptor. As analternative, the information-processing apparatus 11 may be powered by abattery pack serving as DC power supply. Typically, the battery packincludes secondary batteries or fuel batteries.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing elements composing a softwareconfiguration.

Information on an operation (detected information on pressing ornon-pressing button, for example) generated by the mode-switching buttonserving as one of the operation elements 17 is supplied to a devicedriver 18 by way of the control unit 117, which is an EC (EmbeddedController) in the embodiment. The device driver 18 then forwards theinformation on an operation to a dynamic link library 19. In turn, thedynamic link library 19 passes on the information on an operation to anevent service 20.

The event service 20 is a program for monitoring the present settingstate of the image resolution and changes in image resolution through avideo driver 21. Receiving the information on an operation from thedynamic link library 19, the event service 20 determines a next mode toserve as the destination of a mode transition on the basis of thepresent image resolution and the present input operation mode. Then, theevent service 20 issues a command based on a result of the determinationto a touch-panel driver 22.

After the information on an operation carried out on the touch panel 111has been output to the control unit 104, the information is sent to theOS 23 on an upper layer by way of the touch-panel driver 22. Thetouch-panel driver 22 sets an input operation mode according to theoperation information received from the event service 20. As a result,when the user touches the touch panel 111, a message of a mouse event issent to the OS 23 in accordance with the set mode. For example, anoperation carried out by the user in the panning mode as described aboveis recognized as a request for a movement of a display range. In thiscase, a movement distance by which the display range is to be moved iscomputed from coordinates of a drag operation carried out by using apointing device such as a stylus in the processing to move the displayrange. The computed movement distance is then supplied to the OS 23.

In this embodiment, the event service 20 executes a processing step ofmanaging the setting of dynamic mode switching and determining atransition to an input operation mode identified in accordance with anoperation carried out on the mode-switching button and the imageresolution. Then, the touch-panel driver 22 informs the OS 23 of a mouseevent in accordance with the set input operation mode. When the usercarries out an operation to move the display operator 9 over theoperation face of the touch panel after the event service 20 notifiesthe touch-panel driver 22 of a transition to the panning mode asexplained earlier with reference to FIGS. 4A to 4D, for example,processing is carried out under control executed by the OS 23 to movethe display range by the distance of a movement made in the movement ofthe display operator 9 in accordance with the already known method. Itis to be noted that the scope of the present invention is not limited tothis embodiment. For example, it is possible to provide a plurality ofother embodiments in which the functions of the event service 20 and thetouch-panel driver 22 are executed by a single program.

In accordance with the configuration described above, the followingmerits are offered.

-   The input operation mode for entering an input through the touch    panel can be changed or switched to another mode instantly by    operating a single operation button or carrying out an operation on    a specific operation area on the touch panel. Thus, there is offered    a merit of contribution to improvement of operatability. That is to    say, it is not necessary to activate an application program for    setting an input operation mode.-   A display range in the panning mode can be moved by carrying out an    operation on the touch panel. That is to say, an auxiliary operation    section is not required. This merit is effective for simplification    of the configuration and increasing the display area.

In addition, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that avariety of modifications, combinations, sub-combinations and alterationsmay occur in dependence on design requirements and other factors insofaras they are within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalentsthereof.

What is claimed is:
 1. An information processing apparatus comprising: adisplay having a surface; an input unit configured to receive inputinformation based on a user operation of said surface of said display;and a controller configured to determine a current display state eachtime an operation mode is changed by a user, the current display statebeing either a panning state where an image is partially displayed onthe display due to a resolution of the image being greater than aresolution of the display or a non-panning state where an image isentirely displayed on the display, the operation mode selected from atleast a first mode, a second mode, or a third mode, said controllerconfigured to change the operation mode from the first mode to thesecond mode when a determination result indicates that the currentdisplay state is the non-panning state, said controller configured todetect a movement of a user operation based on the received inputinformation and to move an area where the displaying information isdisplayed based on the detected movement in the second mode, and saidcontroller configured to change the operation mode from the first modeto the third mode when the determination result indicates that thecurrent display state is the panning state.
 2. The informationprocessing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the controller isconfigured to change the operation mode based on a user operation on apredetermined area of said surface of said display.
 3. The informationprocessing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the controller isconfigured to change the operation mode in a cyclic manner.
 4. Theinformation processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein when afirst element is displayed in the first mode and the operation mode ischanged from the first mode to the second mode, the first element ischanged to a second element.
 5. The information processing apparatusaccording to claim 2, further comprising: an operation unit arrangedoutside of said display, wherein controller is configured to change theoperation mode based on an operation of said operation unit.
 6. Theinformation processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein saidoperation unit is a mechanical button.
 7. An information processingapparatus comprising: a display having a surface, said display having amaximum resolution; an input unit configured to receive inputinformation based on a user operation of said surface of said display;and a controller configured to control said display, said controllerconfigured to change an operation mode to a mode selected from at leasta first mode, a second mode, and a third mode, the controller isconfigured to change the operation mode from the first mode to thesecond mode based on a predetermined user operation when the maximumresolution of said display is lower than a resolution of informationcurrently displayed in the first mode, the controller is configured tomove an area where the information is displayed based on the receivedinput information when the information is displayed on a part of saiddisplay in the second mode, and the controller is configured to changethe operation mode from the second mode to the third mode when theresolution of information to be displayed is changed, the maximumresolution of said display being higher than or equal to the changedresolution of information to be displayed.
 8. An information processingmethod comprising: receiving input information from a user operation ofa surface of a display; determining a current display state each time anoperation mode is changed by a user, the current display state beingeither a panning state where an image is partially displayed on thedisplay due to a resolution of the image being greater than a resolutionof the display or a non-panning state where an image is entirelydisplayed on the display, the operation mode selected from at least afirst mode, a second mode, and a third mode; changing the operation modefrom the first mode to the second mode when a determination resultindicates that the current display state is the non-panning state;detecting a movement of a user operation based on the received inputinformation; moving an area where the displaying information isdisplayed based on the detected movement in the second mode; andchanging the operation mode from the first mode to the third mode whenthe determination result indicates that the current display state is thenon-panning state.
 9. The information processing method according toclaim 8, further comprising: changing the operation mode based on a useroperation on a predetermined area of said surface of said display. 10.The information processing method according to claim 9, furthercomprising: changing the operation mode in a cyclic manner.
 11. Theinformation processing method according to claim 9, further comprising:changing a first element to a second element when a first element isdisplayed in the first mode and the operation mode is changed from thefirst mode to the second mode.
 12. The information processing methodaccording to claim 9, further comprising: changing the operation modebased on an operation of said operation unit arranged outside of saiddisplay.
 13. The information processing method according to claim 12,wherein said operation unit is a single mechanical button.
 14. Aninformation processing method comprising: receiving input informationbased on a user operation to a surface of a display having a maximumresolution; changing an operation mode to a mode including at least afirst mode, a second mode, and a third mode; changing the operation modefrom the first mode to the second mode based on a predetermined useroperation when the maximum resolution of said display is lower than aresolution of information currently displayed in the first mode; movingan area where the information is displayed based on the received inputinformation when the information is displayed on a part of said displayin the second mode; changing the operation mode from the second mode tothe third mode when the resolution of information to be displayed ischanged, the maximum resolution of said display being higher than orequal to the changed resolution of information to be displayed.
 15. Theinformation processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a cursoris displayed as a first image in the first mode and as a second image inthe second mode, the first image being different than the second image.16. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, whereinthe controller is configured to change the operation mode in a cyclicmanner each time a user operates a single input element such that atleast three operation modes are cycled through.
 17. An informationprocessing apparatus comprising: an input detection unit configured todetect a touch operation performed on a display by a user; and acontroller configured to change a current operation mode for saiddisplay based on a user input, the controller configured to change thecurrent operation mode to an operation mode including at least: a firsttap operation mode, a second tap operation mode, and a pointer movementmode, and the controller is configured to change the current operationmode in a cyclic manner based on the user input by cycling through theat least three operation modes.
 18. The information processing apparatusaccording to claim 17, further comprising: an operation key configuredto change the operation mode when operated by the user.
 19. Theinformation processing apparatus according to claim 17, wherein saidinput detection unit is configured to detect a command by the user tochange the operation mode.
 20. The information processing apparatusaccording to claim 17, wherein said controller further changes thecurrent operation mode when a display mode of said display is changed.21. The information processing apparatus according to claim 17, whereinsaid first tap operation mode corresponds to a main-button click mode ofa mouse and said second tap operation mode corresponds to anauxiliary-button click mode of the mouse.